Donald Trump has been lying about his healthcare plans for more than a year now. The truth? He never cared about actually improving the quality of care or making insurance more affordable for people. He never wanted “insurance for everybody,” and he was never serious about protecting Medicaid. In reality, his plan would take away insurance from 32 million Americans, and he pushed to cut $800 billion from Medicaid which would have been devastating for the working poor, the disabled, rural communities, and the elderly.
Perhaps the only honest thing about Trump and health care is what he’s saying now – that he desperately wants to pass something- anything– to show he’s not entirely useless. He wants a political win and doesn’t care how many millions of Americans have to lose their insurance, their financial security, and even their lives for him to get it.
See for yourself:
May 2015: Trump Promised “There Will Be No Cuts To Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid.” “I was the first & only potential GOP candidate to state there will be no cuts to Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid. Huckabee copied me.” [Donald J. Trump Twitter Account, 5/7/15]
- His plan slashed $774 billion from Medicaid. His administration backs the House GOP budget that cuts funding for Medicare.
June 2015: Trump Promised to “Repeal and Replace With Something Terrific.” [CNN: CNN Live, 6/29/15]
- Throwing millions off their insurance to pay for tax cuts for the richest Americans is not terrific. And now he’s not even trying to replace the ACA.
February 2016: Trump Promised To Replace Obamacare “Immediately, Fast, Quick.” “You’re going to end up with great health care for a fraction of the price and that’s gonna take place immediately after we go in. Okay? Immediately. Fast. Quick.” [Las Vegas, NV via C-SPAN, 2/22/16]
- It’s been six months.
March 2017: Trump Promised “Insurance For Everybody.” “Trump told a gathering of conservatives last month that Obamacare ‘covers very few people,’ reminding the audience that many people lost the insurance plan they loved because of the health reform law. He has vowed to do better, promising ‘insurance for everybody.’” [CNN, 3/19/17]
- His old plan would take insurance away from 22 million people. His new plan would take insurance away from 32 million people.
June 2017: Trump Promised “A Phenomenal Bill for the People of Our Country, Generous, Kind, With Heart.” “[CNN, 6/13/17]
- See above.
Yesterday: Trump Said “Just Let Obamacare Fail It’ll Be A Lot Easier…I’m Not Going To Own It.” “Let Obamacare fail it’ll be a lot easier. And I think we’re probably in that position where we’ll just let Obamacare fail. We’re not going to own it, I’m not going to own it, I can tell you the Republicans are not going to own it. Let Obamacare fail.” [Donald Trump, Healthcare Roundtable, Washington, DC, 7/18/17]
- He controls the White House and both chambers of Congress. He owns it.
Published: Jul 19, 2017